The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26
THE SUBSTITUTE.
BY B. F. SAWYER.

tumble. down cow-sheds, the dilapida-
ted corn-crib, the broken fence, with
It's corners chokcd with briers, and the
dragging gate told of shiftless master.
Its interior, however, presented diff
ferent aspect. The rough board floor
was scrubbed white; the scant floor was
scrupulously clean, while the POTS and
pans and the little store of crockery
were as bright as soap and water and
busy fingers could make them.
The immaculate whiteness of the dra-
perry. arranged with certain unstudicd
grace, spoke as plainly to the credit OF
the mistress, as the outside did to the
discredit of the master.
Sam Nix and his wife were an i'll
mated pair. They had nothing in COM
mon, except the hard fortune that linked
their lives together and poverty. He
was hard, cold, uncouth; she, gentle,
refined and sweet. Not even in regard
to their children were they sympathetic,
for while she loved them both dcvotcdly.
and especially her bright-eyed, manly
boy, he cared hardly as much for his
son as he did for his favorite hound.
1t was in the spring of 1868, the third
year of the war. The first wild storm OF
passion that swept over the land had ex-
hausted itself, and men, furiously blind
before, had begun to realize the danger,
the dread, and the horrors of war.
Among those whose devotion to his
State was the first to take fire and the
first to evaporate was one George Ca
houle, a young man, the proud, pctted
son of proud, but not wealthy, father.
From the time he could cry, his every
whim, that the foolish fondness of his
mother and the moderate means Of his
father could crafty, had been indulged.
Accordingly, when, catching something
OF the spirit of patriotism that excited
the breasts of Drawer and better men, he
offered to volunteer, as soft a place as
possible was obtained for him. Not
much could be done, however; only a
non.commissioned officers birth was
secured. But he took that, and in high
feather marched away, Commissary-
Sergeant in a regiment of Alabama Volun'
teers.
. For time he found life in the camp a
pleasing routine of light duties. But
after white the restraint of the service
began to vex him, and he longcd for the
abounding freedom Of home.
Then came the battle of Stone River,
and though he was safe in the rear with
the cooking detail, an erratic shell came
.creeching through the tree tops danger
ously near his precious head, and he
wrote at once to his mother, to arrange,
if possible for his discharge.
"This thing is getting to be a bore,
any way" he wrote. ''Tell father to
send me substitute right away"
But substitute was not so easily
found. The conscription act, enrolling
every white male citizen between the
ages of eighteen and forty-fve, had been
passed and was being rigidiy enforced,
and where every man had to answer fol-
himself, there was no one to answer fol
poor George Cahoulc.
'sBut there is old Nix's boy; couldn't
they take him? he is not of age yet but
is large enough to pass" suggested the
anxious mother. "I am sure he is bet
ter able to stand it than poor dear
George"
eyes, he will do-a fine, strapping
lad. l will see old Nix and give him
two hundred dollars to let him go, if only
for sixty days" said the old gentleman.
Nix needed the money, and when to
the two hundred dollars was added ten
pounds of fine plug tobacco and a herd
of goats that ran on the mountain behind
his lots, the bargain was made.
Robert Nix, the boy, not yet fifteen,
was not unwilling to go. With the en-
thusiasm of youth he had read of the
battles and wished himself man that he
might share in their glories. His mother,
however, and his sister, were not so en-
:husiastic, and with unavailing tears pro-
tested against the bargain.
The next day after, Judge Cahoulc
came by in his buggy for the boy. The
mother, making the best of the cruel cir
cumstanceS, had tricked him out ip his
smartest clothes, and as he stood arrayed
in his best, military Jacket, gray jear
trousers with a broad, black stripe dowr
the legs, and the jaunty new hat, ht
looked a splendid specimen of young
American manhood.
"Be a good boy, Robbie" said his
mother to him, land don't forget
mother" Then she kissed him and lei
him go.
The army vas encamped in the wintry
woods around shelbyville. The prospect
was cold and dreary enough, but the
novelty of the scene, together with the
CHEEKY bursts of martial music from tht
bands, had a charm for the boy, ano
when he was brought before the Colone
Of the regiment for muster, he tried hi:
best to look every inch soldier.
When questioned as to his age, hi
hesitated moment, but remembering
his mother, he answered, little timidly
As if ashamed OF his youth: 81 shall bt
fifteen next March"
"He is too young, Judge Cahoule.
am very sorry, but it would be unlawful
to enlist him, and especially as a sub
stitute for strong, able-bodied man,
said the Colonel.
"Ah. but he is well-grown. strong
active as cat, healthy and true grit,
insisted the judge.
twill venture this much, as per
sonal favcr to you and to George; vii
muster him in for sixty days and give
George a furlough for that time" com
promised the Colonel"
Every well; a half loaf is better thar
none," acquiesced the judge, and Rober
Nix was duly enrolled and ordered t
duty in Company G, while George Ca
houle, shaking off the shackles of tn
army, hurried back home on the mex
train. To tell TO admirinp ears the won